• 대한예방한의학회지
• /
• 제11권1호
• /
• pp.45-53
• /
• 2007

Homocysteine is a sulfur amino-acid produced during the metabolism of the essential amino acid methionine. Moderately increased plasma total homocysteine concentration have been implicated as a risk factor for occlusive vascular disease. Smoking is known to be one of the most significant factors leading to elevated plasma homocysteine concentration. However, the main component of a cigarette, nicotine has been not studied whether it is linked directly to the increase of homocysteine concentration in blood. The metabolism of homocysteine is closely linked to that of its cofactors, folate. Here, the effects of nicotine and folic acid on amount of plasma homocysteine were studied. The concentration of homocysteine was increased by about 70% in rat plasma after nicotine treatment for one month. This increased concentration of homocysteine was reduced by about 60% at 6 hours later after folate treatment. Thus, nicotine should be directly involved in increasing the concentration of plasma homocysteine. Also it is suggested that these results can be and applied and used for controlling withdrawal symptoms after stopping smoking as one of oriental medicine formulas.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제36권1호
• /
• pp.85-91
• /
• 2003

Objectives : We investigated the effects of the economic growth and unemployment rates on the suicide rate in Korea, between 1983 and 2000, using a time-series regression model. The purpose of this study was to model and test the magnitude of the rate of suicide, with the Korean unemployment rate and GDP. Methods : Using suicide rate per 100,000 Koreans and the unemployment rates between 1983 and 2000, as published by the Korea National Statistical Office, and the rate of fluctuation of the Korean GDP (Gross Domestic Product), as provided by the Bank of Korea, as an index of the economic growth rate, a time-series regression analysis, with a first-order autoregressive regression model, was peformed. Results : An 81.5% of the variability in the suicide rate was explained by GDP, and 82.6% Of that was explained by the unemployment rate. It was also observed that the GDP negatively correlated with the suicide rate, while the unemployment and suicide rates were positively correlated. For subjects aged over 20, both the GDP and unemployment rate were found to be a significant factors in explaining suicide rates, with coefficients of determination of 86.5 and 87.9%, respectively. For subjects aged under 20, however, only the GDP was found to be a significant factor in explaning suicide rates (the coefficient of determination is 38.4%). Conclusion : It was found that the suicide rate was closely related to the National's economic status of Korea, which is similar to the results found in studies in other countries. We expected, therefore, that this study could be used as the basis for further suicide-related studies.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제45권3호
• /
• pp.137-147
• /
• 2012

We conducted a systematic review to summarize providers' attitudes toward pay-for-performance (P4P), focusing on their general attitudes, the effects of P4P, their favorable design and implementation methods, and concerns. An electronic search was performed in PubMed and Scopus using selected keywords including P4P. Two reviewers screened target articles using titles and abstract review and then read the full version of the screened articles for the final selections. In addition, one reference of screened articles and one unpublished report were also included. Therefore, 14 articles were included in this study. Healthcare providers' attitudes on P4P were summarized in two ways. First, we gathered their general attitudes and opinions regarding the effects of P4P. Second, we rearranged their opinions regarding desirable P4P design and implementation methods, as well as their concerns. This study showed the possibility that some healthcare providers still have a low level of awareness about P4P and might prefer voluntary participation in P4P. In addition, they felt that adequate quality indicators and additional support for implementation of P4P would be needed. Most healthcare providers also had serious concerns that P4P would induce unintended consequences. In order to conduct successful implementation of P4P, purchaser should make more efforts such as increasing providers' level of awareness about P4P, providing technical and educational support, reducing their burden, developing a cooperative relationship with providers, developing more accurate quality measures, and minimizing the unintended consequences.

• 보건교육건강증진학회지
• /
• 제27권4호
• /
• pp.105-112
• /
• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to know different effect with uncontrolled hypertension patients after providing health promotion program which consisted with medicine, exercise, nutrition. Methods: The subjects of this study was comprised by uncontrolled hypertension patients in spite of medication and didn't care the pressure by medication. The health promotion program was progressed by group exercise three times a week, nutrition education once a week and medical consultation once a month for 12 weeks. Subjects were measured for body composition(weight, fat mass, % body fat and body mass index), hemo-dynamics(systolic blood pressure(SBP), diastolic blood pressure(DBP), and resting heart rate), and physical fitness (cardiopulmonary endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, balance, and flexibility). Results: Groups showed significant improvement in every measure except resting heart rate. SBP is decreased both taking drug group about 18.4mmHg and without taking drug group about 19.4mmHg.(p<0.001) DBP is decreased both taking drug group about 8.7mmHg and without taking drug group about 9.0 mmHg.(p<0.001) Conclusion: There are no statistical significant differences of SBP and DBP decreasing effects by medication, Since effects of decreasing pressure are not different by medication, I think the health promotion program is effective to uncontrolled hypertension patients to decrease pressure.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제41권3호
• /
• pp.147-152
• /
• 2008

Objectives : Fluoridation of drinking water is known to decrease dental caries, particularly in children. However, the effects of fluoridated water on bone over several decades are still in controversy. To assess the risk of hip fracture related to water fluoridation, we evaluated the hip fracture-related hospitalizations of the elderly between a fluoridated city and non-fluoridated cities in Korea. Methods : Cheongju as a fluoridated area and Chungju, Chuncheon, Suwon, Wonju as non-fluoridated areas were chosen for the study. We established a database of hip fracture hospitalization episode based on the claims data submitted to the Health Insurance Review Agency from January 1995 to December 2002. The hip fracture hospitalization episodes that satisfied the conditions were those that occurred in patients over 65 years old, the injuries had a hip fracture code (ICD-9 820, ICD-10 S72) and the patients were hospitalized for at least 7days. A total of 80,558 cases of hip fracture hospitalization episodes were analyzed. Results : The admission rates for hip fracture increased with the age of the men and women in both a fluoridated city and the non-fluoridated cities (p<0.01). The relative risk of hip fracture increased significantly both for men and women as their age increased. However, any difference in the hip fracture admission rates was not consistently observed between the fluoridated city and the non-fluoridated cities. Conclusions : We cannot conclude that fluoridation of drinking water increases the risk of hip fracture in the elderly.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제40권4호
• /
• pp.291-296
• /
• 2007

Objectives : To explore the information sources and knowledge on infant vaccinations of pro-vaccination community members and anti-vaccination community members on the internet. Methods : An online survey of 245 parents from three pro-vaccination communities and 92 parents from one anti-vaccination community was conducted from June 7 to June 23, 2006. Results : Parents from pro-vaccination communities usually gained the information regarding vaccination efficacy and risk mainly from healthcare providers (49.8%) and mass media (47.7%). Pro-vaccination community members considered healthcare providers as the most credible sources of information on vaccination, whereas the anti-vaccination community members usually gained their information regarding vaccine efficiency and risk from Internet child-care cafes and online vaccination communities. Parents of the anti-vaccination community considered the internet as the most credible information source (77.6% for efficacy, 94.8% for risk). In addition, the major reason why anti-vaccination community members didn't vaccinate and, will not vaccinate, was concern about possible side effects of the vaccine. The knowledge level on infant vaccination, education and economic status was higher in the anti-vaccination community. Conclusions : On-line communities concerned with vaccination are getting popular. The influence of anti-vaccination parents on the Internet is expected to be high. The government and healthcare providers need to increase their efforts to improve the credibility of information about vaccination. Our findings suggest that online communication regarding vaccinations needs to be considered as a means to increase vaccination rates.

• 대한예방한의학회지
• /
• 제12권3호
• /
• pp.99-113
• /
• 2008

In this study, the author experimented the influence of five herbal medicines, which are Lonicera japonica Thunb, Paeonia suffruticosa Andr., Fraxinus rhynchophylla Hance, Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, Scutellaria baicalensis George which are called 'Chungyulyak(淸熱藥)' on drug metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 3A4 in Human Liver Microsome. Above all, the reason for this study is that herbal medicines can be assumed that herbs might have interactions with drugs, other herbs, alcohol and chemicals whether those are much better synergy effects than expected effects when the medicine was treated alone or not. As a result, we showed that all of five traditional herbal medicines had no CYP 3A4 inhibition effect on 10, 20, 30, 40, $50{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ doses in Human Liver Microsome. However, this result are mostly not enough to prove that PMT has a CYP 3A4 inhibition effect. Moreover, it is not that those rates showed that those herbal medicines have CYP 3A4 induction effect. In conclusion, the result could support that those herbal medicines are more safe than chemical drugs even if this is the basic step to prove that result. Therefore, more specific studies to support this result, which are Kinetic study, cell and animal study then finally until clinical research, are required.

• 대한예방한의학회지
• /
• 제12권2호
• /
• pp.37-49
• /
• 2008

In this study, we experimented the influence of three herbal medicines, which are Saussurea lappa Clarke, Poncirus trifoliata Rafin, Citrus aurantium Linne, which are called 'Yigiyak(理氣藥)' on drug metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 3A4 in Human Liver Microsome. Above all, the reason for this study is that herbal medicines can be assumed that herbs might have interactions with drugs, other herbs, alcohol and chemicals whether those are much better synergy effects than expected effects when the medicine was treated alone or not. As a result, we showed that all of five traditional herbal medicines had no CYP 3A4 inhibition effect on 10, 20, 30, 40, $50{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ doses in Human Liver Microsome even Saussurea lappa Clarke showed a little inhibition as about 93% and 79% inhibition rate of control. However, this result are mostly not enough to prove that SLC has a CYP 3A4 inhibition effect. Moreover, it is not that those rates showed that those herbal medicines have CYP 3A4 induction effect. In conclusion, the result could support that those herbal medicines are more safe than chemical drugs even if this is the basic step to prove that result. Therefore, more specific studies to support this result, which are Kinetic study, cell and animal study then finally until clinical research, are required.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제19권2호
• /
• pp.184-192
• /
• 1986

Since the wide spread application of hyperbaric oxygenation in clinical setting, the problems of oxygen toxicity have been attracting a deep interest from the researchers on hyperbaric medicine as a practical issue. Among extensive research trials, the study on the protective agents against oxygen toxicity occupied one of the most challenging field. As the mechanisms of oxygen toxicity, the role of the oxygen free radicals produced by peroxidation process are strongly accepted by the leading researchers on oxygen toxicity, the probable protective effects of antioxidant against oxygen toxicity are sustaining a sufficient rationale. In this study, the author attempted to evaluate the effect of vitamin E as a protective agent against oxygen toxicity through the observation of death rate, convulsion rate, time to convulsion, and macroscopic and microscopic pathological changes of experimental rats exposed to 100% oxygen at 5 ATA for 120 minutes. The findings observed are as follows: 1) The death rate, convulsion rate, time to convulsion, organ/body weight ratio and microscopic pathological findings were identified as reliable objective and quantitative indices for oxygen toxicity. 2) Vitamin E showed excellent protective effects against CNS and pulmonary oxygen toxicity as a strong antioxidant. The most effective dose seemed to be around 400 mg/kg 3) The results of this study are supporting the oxygen free radical hypothesis on oxygen toxicity.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• 제16권1호
• /
• pp.19-24
• /
• 1983

In order to study the effects of iron and zinc on the lead poisoning of rats, lead with iron and zinc, or lead alone were administered orally to a total of 98 adult rats of Sprague-Dawley Species. The concentrations of lead, zinc, and iron were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer at every 20 days intervals of 20th, 40th, 60th, 80th and 120th day as a final measurement. Those datas were analysed and compared with those of control groups. The results were summarized as follows; 1. The concentration of lead in blood, bone. and liver tissues kept increasing in case of lead exposure group whereas it started decreasing at 60-80th day when concentration of zinc started increasing in case of combined exposure group. However, in kidney tissue, the concentration of lead in combined exposure group kept increasing up to the end of observation showing special high concentration at the final measurement at 120th day. 2. Concentration of zinc in blood and liver tissues had increased from 60-80th day in case of combined exposure group. 3. Concentration of iron in blood showed decreasing from $44.15{\pm}9.67\;to\;32.44{\pm}2.69{\mu}g/ml$ in case of lead exposure group, whereas it showed constant level of $47.50{\sim}45.65{\mu}g/ml$. However, in liver tissue it kept constant as control did from 40th to 60th days, but from 100th day on it started increasing to show much higher concentration than control.